Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-24
WHAT LITTLE BIRD SAW AND HEARD.
BY HRTTIE ]. POTTER.
written for the Madison Democrat.


/ am little English Sparrow, and
have travelled many miles and through
many chimes; and am going to tell you a
story abouta young girl and her little
sister, that met in my wanderings.
Tire name of the Oldest is Madeline;
and of the younger, Mildred | know
because / heard them call each other SO.
Madeline is much older than her sister;
perhaps about ten years, and Mildred is
seven They live away up in fat, in
one of the tenement houses of great
city; and are very poor. But for pot
of English violets, which are quite after
my own heart; and which take me back to
Merrie England; and the bread crumbs
that little Mildred placed in the window
for me, might never have known what
brave little people they were.
MY bird curiosity took me quite into
the room one day, and very scantily
furnished one it was. Not a picture on
the wall, no carpet on the floor, just one
dingy old rug in front of the bed in one
corner, a little stove, a table and few
chairs were about all the room contained.
Not very well feathered nest | thought,
but the inmates seemed very cheerful; at
least Mildred was very gleeful, and tossed
her golden curls about, while beautiful
smile always played about her red lips,
which / might almost have mistaken for
a ripe cherry. She had not ''gone out of
the golden gates of childhood" but Mad
cline had for she went out into the great
city and got sewing to do, and brought 1t
home, for there was no one to leave her
little sister with, and sig must sew till
very sz.ssS 800, might now, f0G Mildred must
have some books and GO to school. Win
ter was fast approaching, coal must be
bought, and such hard time as they had
to get along.
never could see that they had one bit
of pleasure; and how they could keep so
cheerful, till one night, not long before
Thanksgiving, [ was flying about here
and there to get my supper; when | be-
thought myself to visit my friends up in
the tenement house; and there would be
crumbs waiting for me | knew.
just as | flew up to their window, a
terrible gust of wind came up; and great
snow flakes commenced to fall, and the
clouds looked so dark that found L must
stay there all night; SO settled down in a
little Granny in the window, right where /
could see Madeline and Mildred; for they
didn't draw down the curtain, they lived
so high up; and besides they had no light,
only the faint chickering's of a little coal
fire, and they were sitting before it.
I heard Ma feline ask Mildred where
they would go tonight. "Oh, TO large
party at a beautiful house, we will GO; and
it will be very warm there, and we will
wear velvets and silks" Then Mildred
clasped her hands about her knee and
rocked back and forth in childish glee.
"And we will wear jewels; you may wear
rubies and diamonds, and l pearls; and
L L L.
will we do next" she asked of Madeline,
who replied smiling at the upturned face,
1--WE will enter marble hall brilliantly
lighted, and walk about, and listen TO the
sweet rnusic;" Eyes Mildred says, sand
there will be beautiful flowers and we will
walk among them, and after while we
will come to fountain, where we Will sit
and watch the spray, and see the people;
then we will go past the flowers again, and
pack to where there are velvet carpets,
and lovely pictures; and if l could look at
the pictures su night [ would be happy"
Then the last ember went out, and all
was darkness. long time it. seemed TO
me | waited and was just about to put
my head under my VIII G, when a light
was struck, and Madeline had shawl
about her shoulders, ard her sewing in
her hand. l peered around aud saw Mil
dred in BED, fast asleep, with that same
beautiful smile on her lips. She was fin
ishing her story in dreamland.
NV bird instict told me that this was
the way Madeline amused her little sister
after supper; and these fanciful stories
were her pictures; and when the last en-
Der went out, her bedtime.
Madeline must have sat and sewed a
long time, for I watched her patiently
plying her needle till 1 grew very weary
and fell asleep. When | awoke the next
morning, the window panes were so frosty |
I couldn't see through them, so | flew |
away home
For several days the weather was very
cold. and / fear ny little friends suffered |
much; for often as few past their home, I
I could see the frost still on the window;
and [ knew they had but little fire, If any.
Fortunately for them, and for me, the
sun came out again; and the day before
Thanksgiving everybody was out. And |
as was flying about town | spied them.
Madeline had bundle of work in her
arms and they were locking at the tempt
ing dis plav of fruit. turkeys and game of
ali sorts. which were lavishly set forth to
tempt the passer by. But alas! For Mad
cline and Mildred. feared ie would be a
dreary day. But some other bird must
have been flying about; not such as l,
but a djviuer one wis pering IL tue ears
of the '.LeId-s Hand club 50 hod tae
por children. aud give them pleasant
For f sing NJ 30 my noes III tbs
ow the next morning. / heard Mil
M great state Of exciseaens tell